7/11/09

IF - Hollow

Found in fairy stories throughout Scandinavia, she is also known as skogsrå and holda, among other names. She is a beautiful woman in front but her backside looks like a hollow tree. Some Huldra also have tails, often either cow or fox. Should you encounter a huldra, it is considered dangerous to comment on her tail, unless it is done with the utmost delicacy. For instance, if you politely tell her her "garter" or "slip" is showing she may grant you healthy cattle or good fishing according to legend. It is also said that if she blows on a hunter's rifle, he will never miss a shot.

The huldra is often considered a protector of woods and woodland critters. A seductive creature, she is famous for collecting human lovers as well as for her mercurial nature. She can be just as easily pleased as offended. And you do NOT want to offend her.

She also has a reputation for stealing children & leaving changelings.You can find out more about this lovely lady by clicking on the above links. There are also some entertaining folktales around the web.

As soon as I saw that the Illustration Friday prompt was Hollow, I remembered this creature - of all the faeries I read about as a kid, for some reason she really gave me the willies. Couldn't recall her name, but google settled that while distracting me with some wonderful tales. Originally I was going to make a little clay sculpture, but then I remembered this cool fern-patterned paper I've had for ages. I also checked DeviantArt for some models & found that the stock photos of Tw1sted Truth & WakenTheDead Stock fit the bill

If you get a chance CLICK HERE & see what other fun pieces have been submitted to Illustration Friday this week. Or even better, submit your own!

I've decided I'd better start paying more attention to my neglected Etsy Shops, so this piece is now available. Just click HERE for info & detailed pics of The Huldra. Hopefully I'll get some more pieces listed this week.

Final note: New giveaway this week. 1 random winner to be drawn on 7/16. Prize is 250 customized stamps from UPrinting.com. What would you do with 250 free stickers, designed by You? Just leave an answer in comments to be entered in drawing. The prize sponsor, Uprinting.com does have a couple of disclaimers. CLICK HERE for details

Hi, thanks for dropping by my blog. As chance would have it, I also posted a drawing of a hulder.(http://sonofincog.blogspot.com/2009/06/if-craving-pen-and-ink-on-paper.html), which I submitted for IF a couple of weeks ago. Fancy that. I think the prompt was ‘craving’.

I like your drawing. I never heard about the hollow part, just the tails. Learn something new every day!

Great illustration!!! I really like the fern paper you have used it goes so well with your drawing. I've never heard of this faerie story before and she would have given me the willies too if I'd heard this as a kid. Wonderful work!!

This is the second illustration of this ..ack..I can't remember how it's spelled or what the keyboard shortcuts are to get the funny letters. Way cool. I knew about huldra, but not the other ones (the hollow ones). I play scandinavian folk music, and many of the programs we end up going to include some great story-telling.

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